The FimH Gene in Uropathogenic Escherichiacoli Strains Isolated From Patient With Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

Background:Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of main health problems caused by many microorganisms, including uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). UPEC strains are the most frequent pathogens responsible for 85% and 50% of community and hospital acquired UTIs, respectively. UPEC strains have special virulence factors, including type 1 fimbriae, which can result in worsening of UTIs.Objectives:This study was performed to detect type 1 fimbriae (the FimH gene) among UPEC strains by molecular method.Materials and Methods:A total of 140 isolated E. coli strains from patients with UTI were identified using biochemical tests and then evaluated for the FimH gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.Results:The UPEC isolates were identified using biochemical tests and were screened by PCR. The fimH gene was amplified using specific primers and showed a band about 164 bp. The FimH gene was found in 130 isolates (92.8%) of the UPEC strains. Of 130 isolates positive for the FimH gene, 62 (47.7%) and 68 (52.3%) belonged to hospitalized patients and outpatients, respectively.Conclusions:The results of this study indicated that more than 90% of E. coli isolates harbored the FimH gene. The high binding ability of FimH could result in the increased pathogenicity of E. coli; thus, FimH could be used as a possible diagnostic marker and/or vaccine candidate.

Repurposing auranofin to combat uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms

“…Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was performed to visualize effect of auranofin on biofilm. The importance of fimH and rpoS genes for UPEC infection has been suggested previously (Adnan et al ; Schwan ; Hryckowian and Welch ; Hojati et al ). However, it remains unclear how auranofin affects type 1 fimbriae gene ( fimH ) and response regulator gene ( rpoS ) to stress.…”

“…The upregulation of rpoS gene might be for maintaining biofilm structure. Type 1 fimbriae gene fimH is an important gene involved in UPEC adhesion (Hojati et al ). Our qRT‐PCR results showed that expression levels of fimH gene were decreased when the concentration of auranofin was increased.…”

“…qRT‐PCR was used to quantify expression levels for type 1 fimbriae gene ( fimH ) and response regulator gene ( rpoS ) to stress in E. coli cells according to the degree of auranofin treatment (Ito et al ; Hojati et al ). First, cDNA was synthesized from RNA using ReverTraAce qPCR RT Master Mix with gDNA Remover (Toyobo, Osaka, Japan) according to the manufacturer's instructions.…”

The relationship between biofilm formation and presence of fimH and mrkD genes among E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolated from patients in Mosul

“…Most clinical isolates of coliforms express type 1 (mannose-sensitive) and type 3 (mannose-resistant) fimbrial adhesins. Among adhesions of uropathogenic E. coli ,the adhesive subunit of type 1 fimbriae ,FimH, is a major determinant ,which has high tropism for urinary tract receptors ;thus, FimH adhesion is important in colonizing different niches of E. coli ( Hojati et al, 2015 ). Type 3 fimbrial adhesins are able to mediate the binding of K. pneumonia to various human cells , such as endothelial cells , epithelial cells of the respiratory tract and urinary tract .…”

Prevalence of Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli with fimH Gene Isolated from Iranian Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

“…The sediments were suspended in 500 µL of sterile deionized water, and boiled for 10 minutes. After centrifugation of the boiled samples at 19000 g for 5 minutes, the supernatant was used as DNA template in PCR assay (14).…”